How to Get from Cozumel to Tulum in 2026: Ferry Plus Five Options
Cozumel to Tulum is two trips, not one. Tulum is on the mainland, so every route starts with the same 45 minute ferry to Playa del Carmen, and only then do your options differ. Total distance is about 64 km, of which 19 km is water.
That matters because people compare the road options and ignore the crossing, when the ferry is the part that decides your day. Miss the last boat and none of the rest applies.
Short answer:
Ferry to Playa del Carmen, then a colectivo south to Tulum. The whole thing costs roughly 250 to 300 MXN and takes about two hours door to door. Pay for a private transfer instead if you have luggage, a group, or a late crossing, because the colectivo stops being fun when you are tired and carrying cases.
Every option compared
| Second leg from Playa | Total time | Total cost | Drops you | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colectivo | 2 hrs | 250 to 300 MXN | Tulum pueblo | Most people |
| ADO bus | 2 to 2.5 hrs | 350 to 450 MXN | Tulum pueblo | Fixed seat, fixed time |
| Shared shuttle | 2 to 3 hrs | Around 31 USD | Near your hotel | Skipping the terminal walk |
| Private transfer | 2 hrs | 125 USD and up per vehicle | Your door | Groups and luggage |
| Rental car | 2 hrs | From around 20 USD per day | Anywhere | Cenotes and ruins |
| Taxi | 2 hrs | The expensive one | Your door | Late arrivals only |
Fares and journey times change often. Confirm with the operator before you travel.
Going further in Mexico? ADO buses, colectivos, ferries and cheap domestic flights overlap on a lot of routes. Our Mexico transport guide works out which one to take.
Leg one: the ferry, which is the part that matters
Two companies run the crossing between San Miguel pier in Cozumel town and the pier at the foot of Fifth Avenue in Playa del Carmen. Ultramar has the larger fleet and more frequent departures. Winjet is often cheaper with slightly fewer sailings.
Expect roughly 200 to 250 MXN one way, about 12 to 15 USD, and 45 minutes on the water. Both run close to hourly, with first sailings early morning and last ones somewhere between 9pm and 11pm depending on the operator and the season.
Three things worth knowing before you buy:
- Check both booths on the day. They sit side by side and the prices move. A round trip locks you to one operator’s return schedule, which is only worth it if their timings suit you.
- Confirm the last departure before you plan your afternoon. Seasonal timetable changes are the single most common way this trip goes wrong.
- The crossing can be rough. It is a short hop in open water and the catamarans move. If you are prone to seasickness, sit low and central rather than out on the upper deck.
Leg two: Playa del Carmen to Tulum
1. Colectivo, the one we would take
Shared vans leave from Calle 2 near Avenida 20, a short walk from the ferry pier, and cost around 50 MXN for the hour down to Tulum. They go when they fill, which in practice means every few minutes.
Combined with the ferry that puts the whole journey at roughly 250 to 300 MXN and about two hours. Nothing else here comes close on value. The limits are luggage space and the fact that they thin out in the evening.
2. ADO bus
The ADO terminal is a short walk from the Playa pier, and the coach is a step up in comfort with assigned seats, air conditioning and a luggage hold. It costs more than the colectivo and runs to a fixed timetable rather than leaving when full.
Worth it if you have a case, if the colectivo queue looks long, or if you simply want a seat you have already paid for after 45 minutes on a boat.
3. Private transfer
A private transfer meets you at the Playa pier and takes you to your hotel door, priced per vehicle from about 125 USD. Split across a family that is reasonable. For two people it is hard to justify against a 50 MXN van.
The case for it is arrival time and luggage, not speed. It saves perhaps 30 minutes over the colectivo. What it actually buys is not carrying bags through a terminal at the end of a travel day.
4. Rental car, with one important catch
You cannot bring a Cozumel rental car over on the passenger ferry. Vehicles cross on a separate service from Calica, south of Playa del Carmen, which is not worth the detour for a one way transfer.
If you want a car in Tulum, rent it in Playa del Carmen after the crossing, and return the Cozumel scooter or car before you leave the island. Two separate rentals, no ferry paperwork.
5. Taxi
Taxis wait outside the Playa ferry terminal, which is exactly why the fares there are the worst in town. Walking a couple of blocks, to the ranks near the Paseo del Carmen car park or around Benito Juarez and Fifth Avenue, gets you a noticeably better price.
Agree the fare before you get in. A colectivo covers the same road for about 50 MXN, so know that whatever a driver quotes is a large multiple of the alternative, and treat it as a late night convenience rather than a sensible default.
Arriving in Tulum
Tulum is two places. The pueblo sits on the highway and the beach road runs south along the coast, and they are a few kilometers apart. The colectivo and the ADO bus both drop you in the pueblo.
If your hotel is on the beach road, budget 150 to 250 MXN for a taxi on that last stretch, and agree it in advance, because there is no Uber in Tulum. Local taxi unions kept it out. That last leg can cost more than the hour you just spent in the van, which is worth knowing before you decide the colectivo is the cheap option.
Best day tours in Tulum
Cozumel to Tulum FAQ
How do you get from Cozumel to Tulum?
Every route is the same two stages. First a 45 minute ferry from San Miguel pier in Cozumel to Playa del Carmen, then roughly an hour south by road. The cheapest combination is the ferry plus a colectivo, at about 250 to 300 MXN in total and around two hours door to door.
How much is the ferry from Cozumel to Playa del Carmen?
Roughly 200 to 250 MXN one way, about 12 to 15 USD. Ultramar and Winjet both run the crossing from booths beside each other at the pier, and prices move, so it is worth checking both on the day rather than assuming.
How long is the Cozumel ferry?
About 45 minutes each way, with departures roughly hourly. First sailings are early morning and the last are somewhere between 9pm and 11pm depending on the operator and the season. Confirm the last departure before planning your afternoon.
Can I take a rental car from Cozumel to Tulum?
Not on the passenger ferry. Vehicles cross on a separate service from Calica, south of Playa del Carmen, which is not worth the detour for a one way trip. Return your Cozumel rental before you leave the island and pick up a new car in Playa del Carmen if you want one in Tulum.
What is the cheapest way from Cozumel to Tulum?
Ferry plus colectivo. The vans leave from Calle 2 near Avenida 20 in Playa del Carmen, a short walk from the pier, and cost around 50 MXN for the hour to Tulum. Total is about 250 to 300 MXN including the crossing.
Is there Uber in Tulum?
No. Local taxi unions kept Uber out, so you cannot fall back on the app when you arrive. Agree taxi fares in advance. From the Tulum bus station to the beach road expect 150 to 250 MXN.
How far is Tulum from Cozumel?
About 64 km in total, of which 19 km is the sea crossing to Playa del Carmen and the rest is the drive south along Highway 307.
- About the Author
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Tim Kroeger is a luxury wellness travel specialist, endurance athlete, and the creator of The Restorative Index. He is the official brand ambassador for Healthi Life in Bangkok and the inventor of Luxury Bikepacking. He reviews luxury wellness hotels at tim-kroeger.com and publishes adventure travel content at Universal Traveller. Follow him on Instagram.
